Why have a web site?

Because I wanted my own corner of the internet. More bluntly I needed a kick up the backside.

I once read a quotation which I’ve long thought to be true but have also done nothing about for an even longer period of time: “The only secret is to begin.” (Moxie Marlinspike, founder of Signal, amongst other things). So I took out a Squarespace subscription and was pleasantly surprised to find that this eponymous domain was available so took that as well.

So here it is, a web site under my name. A creative zone? A catalyst for focus? Maybe.

Photography was the first reason for setting up the site as I’d grown disillusioned with social media and the frustrations of not being able to present my images as I wanted.

A photograph, by pausing time, permits us to see the subject differently, for longer, and better; and to see something beyond the subject itself.

I used to do a lot of photography, many years ago, in various ‘wet’ darkrooms tucked away in the spare bedrooms or cellars of various houses we lived in. Developing and printing in black and white; colour slides and prints processed by labs. Designated family photographer, chronicling our children as they played and grew; their parents and grandparents too.

Now it’s a way for me to combine photogrpahy’s own pleasures with those of cycling and walking in wild places. A way to witness and make images of the beauty I see. It’s also a learning process to stretch an ageing brain.

Writing was another catalyst: to straighten out my thinking on subjects which occupy me. To push myself to go beyond sketchy drafts, to finish and commit some pieces to the ‘published’ page.

Ceapabhal, Scarista, Isle of Harris